9th and 9th is a neighborhood in
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC, is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities and towns in Utah, most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. It is the county seat of Salt Lake County, Utah, Salt ...
located two blocks east of
Liberty Park. The area gets its name from the intersection of 900 South and 900 East.
The neighborhood is known for its local shops, restaurants, cafes and other small businesses that lie along 900 South. It is a popular residential area for students and upper-income families due to its
walkability
In urban planning, walkability is the accessibility of amenities within a reasonable walking distance. It is based on the idea that urban spaces should be more than just transport corridors designed for maximum vehicle throughput. Instead, it s ...
, along with its proximity to
Downtown
''Downtown'' is a term primarily used in American and Canadian English to refer to a city's sometimes commercial, cultural and often the historical, political, and geographic heart. It is often synonymous with its central business district ( ...
and the
University of Utah
The University of Utah (the U, U of U, or simply Utah) is a public university, public research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. It was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret (Book of Mormon), Deseret by the General A ...
campus. It contains one of the private school campuses of
Rowland Hall.
The neighborhood is host to the annual 9th and 9th Street Festival.
2007 Renovation
During the summer of 2007, 9th and 9th received sidewalk and street improvements.
Kinetic sculpture
Kinetic art is art from any medium that contains movement perceivable by the viewer or that depends on motion for its effects. Canvas paintings that extend the viewer's perspective of the artwork and incorporate multidimensional movement are ...
art displays inspired by the nine
Muse
In ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, mythology, the Muses (, ) were the Artistic inspiration, inspirational goddesses of literature, science, and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge embodied in the poetry, lyric p ...
s of Greek mythology were installed on all four corners of the intersection. The sculptures were created by Troy Pillow.
The building on the northwest corner has recently been remodeled.
9th and 9th Street Festival
The 9th and 9th Street Festival is an event held for neighbors and is run annually by a group of neighbor volunteers. The festival typically hosts 100–150 booths made up of artists and varied vendors each year, and runs in September.
History
In the 1970s, a small number of shops moved into 9th and 9th. Mother’s Earth Things, Stone Balloon Waterbeds, Skin Company Productions, Desolation Row, Nature's Way, The Connection and Cosmic Aeroplane. The businesses fostered an alternative community that became the epicenter of the counterculture movement in Salt Lake City. They also proved to be the driving force that transformed the area into a vibrant and burgeoning neighborhood.
Mother's Earth Things- Founded by Linda Huntington and Tamara Buranek in 1970. Featured high-quality hand-crafted clothing, candles, tie-dye, and woven wall hangings.
Stone Balloon Waterbeds- Utah's oldest waterbed store. Founded by Bob Gaddie in 1971.
Skin Company Productions- Founded by Ken Rogers. Handcrafted leather clothing.
Desolation Row- A sandwich shop named after Bob Dylan's famous recording. Founded by singer Richard Cordray of Smoke Blues Band.
Nature's Way- A natural food store founded by Ed Hurd.
Cosmic Aeroplane- A record-and-book shop founded by Steve Jones.
References
{{Salt Lake City
Neighborhoods in Salt Lake City